Adopt a planter and make a difference in your community

A NEW initiative that is being rolled out across the Three Towns will help people bring colour and nature to their area.

The ‘Adopt a Planter/Bedding’ scheme will allow green-fingered groups or individuals to take over planting or bedding areas.

This could help bring colour to your community, hone your gardening skills or even grow food for your community.

What is grown or produced is generally up to the adopter and the Council’s Streetscene team will be there to offer advice and top tips along the way.

For those interested, there will be two drop-in sessions with Streetscene officers on 30 August - 10am -12 noon at Saltcoats Town Hall and 5.30pm - 7.30pm at Stevenston Library.

These will provide further details of exact locations with around 30 areas available to adopt.

Councillor Louise McPhater, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “This is a fantastic initiative and will help our local communities become even more empowered and let them play a key part in their area.

“Local people live and breathe their communities. They care deeply and have a pride in their area. They want it to look nice this gives them a chance to do that.

“Our Streetscene officers are really knowledgeable and will provide loads of help along the way. This is also another opportunity to learn some new skills.”

This latest initiative is part of the Council’s ‘Shaping North Ayrshire’ initiative which aims to empower local communities.

As well the ‘Adopt a Planter/Bedding’ scheme, people across the Three Towns have also been given the chance to decide how the Council’s Streetscene’s Ground Maintenance Budget – which includes grass-cutting, flower beds and planting, weeding and planting wild flowers – is allocated.

There is also a garden competition which aims to highlight some of the amazing horticultural creations in Stevenston, Saltcoats and Ardrossan

For more information, contact participatorybudgeting@north-ayrshire.gov.uk or 01294 604612.